SALEM, Ore.—Raffle tickets for 2013 big game hunts (deer, elk, Rocky Mtn goat, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep) can be purchased online or by mail order only through May 6.

After that, tickets can only be purchased at the Oregon Hunters Association State Convention at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City on May 18 from 5-7 p.m., just before the raffle drawing at 7:45 p.m.

Winners of the raffle tags receive the same special hunting privileges that people pay thousands for at auction—hunting for an extended season (eight weeks or longer) and in an expanded hunt area (statewide for some hunts). Raffle tickets can be purchased for others too, and they make a great gift for family and friends who hunt.

Last year’s winner of the Rocky Mountain goat raffle tag, William (Will) Garroutte of California, even set a state record with his goat taken Sept. 6, 2012 near Hat Point (Wallowa County). According to Boone and Crockett Club, its score was 54 and it ranks #1 for Oregon and 27th largest of all time for North America. (NW Big Game also notes it as a record.)

Buy raffle tickets online or by mail or fax order. Mail and fax orders must be received (not just postmarked or fax dated) by May 6.

Prices range from $4.50 for one deer hunt raffle ticket to $11.50 for one bighorn sheep, Rocky Mtn goat or pronghorn antelope hunt raffle ticket. Multiple ticket packages are available with a per-ticket price discount. See the mail order form at OregonRaffleHunts.com or page 22-23 of the 2013 Oregon Big Game Regulations for a full breakdown of prices and an order form.

To be considered valid, raffle tickets must be filled out with the tag recipient’s name and other information and returned to ODFW by a certain deadline. Completed tickets must be received at ODFW by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 16 (mail to ODFW Raffles, PO Box 7760, Salem OR 97303 or hand-deliver to ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave NE). Tickets that don’t meet this first deadline must be hand-delivered to ODFW at the OHA State Convention in Lincoln City on Saturday, May 18 from 5-7:30 p.m.

Track raffle ticket sales at the following website: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/auctions_raffles/current_raffle_counts.asp.

Proceeds from deer and elk raffle tag sales go to ODFW’s Access and Habitat Program, which funds projects that provide hunter access and/or improve wildlife habitat on private land in Oregon. The proceeds from pronghorn, goat and sheep raffle tickets benefit research and management efforts on behalf of those species.

For more information, Contact:

Michelle Dennehy

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

(503) 947-6022

Michelle.N.Dennehy@state.or.us

Photos of Will Garroutte’s record goat and other 2012 raffle tag winners can be found at this link: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2013/april/043013e.asp